The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-08-22

tspdsucv 10 weaken the morals Of
others or to lead them into Gin. 10
the apostles advice TO the church ct
Corinth on this subject hs said: |
"Wherefore, II meat maketh my
brother 10 offend, l will eat no more
flesh while the world standsth." Il
Cor. viii, 49,
/. We have reached crisis In the
history Of our State. For four long
decades there has been Q growing
consciousness on the part OF the peo.
pie that the evils growing ont OF In.
temperance are sspping the very
foundations Of society. Temperance
societies aud lecturers, and the dsliv.
erances OF religious bodies, have ere.
ated sentiment among the people
which led to the passages Of Ia ws reg
ulating and limiting Its esle. The
beneficial effect Of these local laws
have led 10 the necessity of the total
suppression OF the traffic throughout
the State. II is contest that dwarfs
into insignficapce the struggle OF
party politicians for place or power.
1t Is q struggle between light and
darkness, between virtue and vice,
between Happiness and misery, be.
tween plenty and poverty, between
heaven and hell, with al that these
words mean.
No day passes but some deed Of
blood is recorded, some home blasted,
some heart broken, some reputation
ruined, come character assaulted or vir.
tue destroyed by the blightlng curse
Of strong drink.
The conscience OF the State has
become aroused and alarmed for It's
ultimate safety, and good men OF eli
faiths and parties are awakening from
the sleep OF years TO q realx atom
| OF the danger that has we'll nigh en-.
| quilted them. The tribes OF I,rael
are set In array. The ark of the cove.
nsnt 10 going before the Lords hosts,
the grand march has begun and will
not cease until our feet stand upon a
land that's free indetd.
The principle OF self denial was en-.
Joined by our Savior a. the condition
on which He accepts our service. II
We would DO His followers We must
deny ourselves and take up the cross
and follow HIM. This Ia embodied in
the text. Intoxicating drink bless
ing or q curse to our racer Does Il
add to the peace, happiness or com.
fort oil the psopltf Does 1t lead nten
from their low estate Of sin 10 purity,
holiness and heaven7 II II does moi,
then 10 Ia incumbent upon every one
who calls himself Christian TO do al
that be can TO save all those "for
whom Christ died" by removing their
temptation out Of the way. IL is not a
question about our sobriety or even
abstinence. but 10 help the weak, the
,tumbling aid the tempted from fail.
ing q prey to their weakness.
A nation cannot be great II Il 10
not moral, righteousness alone can
| exalt q nation. The London Tele-
, grsph. q paper that has the largest
circulation In the world, says: "0ur
revenue may derive some unhoiy
benefit from tie sa,s OF alcohol, but
the entire trade 10 q covenant with
sin aud DEATH"
2. The continuance Of our govern.
ment depends upon the spccess Of
legislation on the liquor traffic. TIE
terrible IL fuence OF the liquor trait,
on politics demand that IL be stopptd
or curbed. Look at the action OF the
County Court Of Shelby county in the
appointment OF clerks and Judges Of
election for prohibition IL repaired
the most persistent effort on the part
oil gentlemen even 10 get single
judge appointed, and, finally, an APP
peal TO the higher courts TO save the
election from being an empty farce,
The perpicious influence OF the
liquor traffic 10 felt nowhere more
powerfully than In tho control OF
county and State elections. The -four
hundred legal and illegal saloons oil
this city have dictated for many
years who shall be In control Of the
judiciary OF this county, who ehall
hold offices Of responsibility and trust
In the county, and TO the liquor
Interest alone We owe our representa-.
ton In the legislature, which made
our county representation, with one
or two honorable exceptions, obnox.
ious TO the teople Of Tennessee. The
four mile law has never been enforced.
Hundreds Of people cell intoxicating
liquor without license. Saloons are
open all day on Sunday. Society
realizes u rs public menace, q stand
Ing defiance OF law aud order. Neither
moral suation or decent respect for
law has any influence over those who
deal In II.
3. Its q standing menace 10 the
youth 81 orr cities. How many cons
Of our own citizens nave gone down
step by siep2 How many young men
have come from pure, clean homes in
the country, frsh from q mothers
kiss aud q sisters prayers, and beer
dragged down 10 ruin and Disgrace
How many fearful letters do We city
pas ora receive from heart broken
mothers TO look after their wayward,
ruined boya7
4. II 10 the foe Of the church
Through lin blight thousands Of men
women and children In t1is city loday
are unfit 10 appear In church or Sun
day school, and while an nov tp.ak
Ing many wife 10 weeping a. shs
thinks Of happier days, while her chill
dren are crying around her for bread
and her poor. fallen husband 10 spend
Ing the last OF bis hard earned wages
In the near Of saloon. Where 10 th,
church In this or any other city tha
cannot recall the names OF those who
were once bright and shining lights
but their lights went out In the gloom
OF dissiI alton. God has given us oul
opportunity TO put away from "a thiI
terrible evil, 10 redeem our land from
the destroyer, TO purify our politics, "a
magnify our laws, 90 rave our young
men, 10 protect our homes, and e
honor His name and advance Hi
kingdom among men.
No pen but the recording angels
can depict the awful havoc OF THU
fearful ourte Of strong drink.
No eye but the all seeing eye OF Co
csn sec the fearful stream OF q world
gull, aud elm, an like a river Il bai
rolled on and ON for centuries, bear
ing on It's rsmorseless n Nv, The ruiz
and wreck OF mil ions.
None but God knows how the ours,
/ Of drunkenness liza "A akaletnn has